Optimizing Feed Management for Poultry Farms
- Optimizing Feed Management for Poultry Farms
- Introduction
- Current Feed Allocation Method
- Is Adjusting Weekend Feed Amounts Practical?
- My Approach: Consistent Total Feed Amount
- Example
- Continuous Curve vs. Stepwise Increases
- Benefits of Fixed Total Feed Amount
- Weight Management in Parent Stock Farming
- Record-Keeping and Evaluation
- Conclusion
Table of Contents
Introduction
Our poultry farm has undergone significant modernization in various aspects, including the regular monitoring of key parameters like temperature, survival rates, feed quantities, and water supply.
Current Feed Allocation Method
Currently, we base our daily feed allocation on the previous day's survival rate. In other words, the required feed for today is determined by yesterday's survival rate. Consequently, we front-load more feed at the beginning of the week, and the actual total feed supplied diminishes as the week progresses due to declining survival rates.
Is Adjusting Weekend Feed Amounts Practical?
Is adjusting the feed amount based on weekend survival rates a practical solution? Making significant one-time adjustments can risk providing less feed than the previous week.
My Approach: Consistent Total Feed Amount
Consider adopting a method that maintains a consistent total feed amount at the beginning of the week. This approach ensures a gradual increase in feed quantities, reducing abrupt fluctuations. Rather than calculating feed based on the per-bird rate, maintain a fixed total feed amount and divide it by the survival rate to determine the daily feeding quantity.
Example
Let's clarify this with an example: Assume we currently have 20,000 chickens, and this week's feed rate is 50g per chicken, totaling 1,000kg of feed. If there are 10 deaths, reducing the total to 19,990, the feed quantity becomes 999.5kg. The next day, provide 999.5kg. If 10 more chickens are lost, supply 999kg. This approach ensures the risk of reduced feed quantities due to missed daily.
Continuous Curve vs. Stepwise Increases
While Aviagen's guidelines recommend stepwise feed quantity increases, I believe that a continuous curve aligns better. Remember that guidelines serve as examples.
Benefits of Fixed Total Feed Amount
Maintaining a fixed total feed amount of 1,000kg until the weekend results in a continuous increase in the effective feed quantity. This approach ensures that even with fluctuations in chicken numbers due to deaths, a sufficient feed supply is maintained. So, by keeping the total feed amount fixed, the feed quantity gradually increases without sharp fluctuations.
Weight Management in Parent Stock Farming
In broiler farming, weight management is paramount, and it's a fundamental principle never to reduce the feed amount unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as disease outbreaks.
Record-Keeping and Evaluation
For those who keep records, it's evident that even with the same total feed amount, the feed quantity consistently increases.
Conclusion
You should not evaluate feed management solely based on the total feed amount. Keeping the total feed amount fixed does not mean maintaining the same feed quantity as the previous week.